Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 84

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 886

USA > Massachusetts > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume IV > Part 84

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

(VII) Eugene, youngest son of Dr. Or- lando and Frances (Viles) Tompkins, was born September 28, 1850, in the family resi- dence on Washington street, and died Febru- ary 22, 1909, at his home on Commonwealth avenue, Boston. He was for many years pro- prietor of the Boston Theatre, and one of the best known men in the theatrical world. It was in his father's store that he met many famous players of the day, and in fact it was his father's great friendship with the great actor, Edwin Booth, that shaped the son's des- tiny and drew him from the paths of a mercan- tile life for which he had prepared himself. and started him on a career of usefulness and influence to the American stage. Edwin Booth had just returned from California, and in order to provide him the opportunity for a suitable appearance in Boston, Dr. Tompkins assumed the management of the Boston The- atre. The success of this engagement was the turning point in the career of Dr. Tompkins. and it later proved to be his son's also. So phenomenal was Edwin Booth's success that Dr. Tompkins abandoned his calling as an apothecary and became a manager. At this time Eugene Tompkins was being educated at the Chauncey Hall School. Later he gradu- ated with high honors and entered business, but all his enthusiasm and ambition was for the theatrical enterprises in which his father

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was interested, and he soon became associated with him. In 1877, at the age of twenty- seven years, Eugene Tompkins came into no- tice as a manager. At this time there was playing in Paris a remarkable play, "The Ex- iles." Abroad it was making a tremendous hit. and managers in this country were greatly interested in it. The reading of a critical re- view of the play gave Eugene Tompkins his first opportunity. Instinctively he grasped the possibilities of the play and its adaptability for American audiences. He immediately went abroad and secured the rights from the author M. Victorien Sardou, and had the play translated in London and adapted by L. R. Shewell. Then Mr. Tompkins personally di- rected the production of the play at the Bos- ton Theatre, "The Exiles" running an entire season. The following year (1878) Mr. Tompkins took the reins of actual manage- ment of the theatre, with which he had been associated since 1871. The first production under his own regime was "Andrew Fortier," a play written expressly for him by Sardou. This met with all the success of "The Exiles." From this time forward his managerial career was attended by a long list of successes. Among these were included "Voyagers in Southern Seas." "Masque of Pandora," "Zanita," "Jalma," "Youth," "Love of Money" and a "Run of Luck." All these and others were splendidly produced by Mr. Tompkins. These productions all demanded from Mr. Tompkins strictest personal attention and appealed to the resourcefulness of the manager. Equally successful and pleasing to the public were "The Soudan," "The Babes in the Wood" and "The Black Crook," which were put on elaborately, with great ingenuity, and keenest attention to detail and spectacular effect. Mr. Tompkins retired as an active manager in 1901, after thirty years continued success, and significantly enough all within a stone's throw from the site of his birthplace. In 1886 he became the sole owner as well as the manager of the Boston Theatre. During this period Mr. Tompkins sent out many companies, and one of the most significant of his ventures was the leasing of the old Fifth Avenue Theatre and the purchasing of the Academy of Music on Fourteenth street, New York. Although he severed all financial and managerial connec- tion with the Boston Theatre, he always re- tained his interest in the Academy of Music. In 1896 he leased the Park Theatre from Miss Lotta Crabtree, retaining it several seasons.

From the first the aim of Mr. Tompkins was

to make his theatre the real temple of the drama. His standards were high, and he was always held in high esteem by the best element in Boston. He was a worker himself, and he achieved much. His methods were direct and straightforward and his judgement keen. As a man he was unostentatious, his disposition retiring, and there was no appeal to him, even in a deserved publicity of his achievements, except as this came to him by subtly feeling the approval of his patrons. Mr. Tompkins was not only a pioneer of the modern the- atrical managers, but his methods were abreast of the best that could be shown. Many were the reforms he brought about on the American stage. Many also were the ideals for it which he never realized. He also had wide interests beyond the theatre and its management. He was a collector of ceramics and the mementoes of the earlier American actors. In his father's store he was thrown constantly into contact with men like the Booths, of whom he had dozens of anecdotes and as many relics. One of these was a bloodstone ring given to his father by John Wilkes Booth only a few weeks before Booth shot President Lincoln. Edwin Booth lived at Dr. Tompkins' house whenever he was in Boston, and all Eugene Tompkins' association with actors had as much of social feeling as of business relations. In the din- ing room of his home was his collection of old Staffordshire pottery, the "Old Blue China" of the last century. This collection is famous, embracing more than three hundred specimens, the value of which is not to be conjectured.

The will of Eugene Tompkins was remark- able chiefly for a princely benefaction of $750- 000 to the Perkins Institute for the Blind, South Boston. With his characteristic mod- esty he attached to the bequest no stipulations concerning the way the money should be ex- pended, nor did he make any suggestion that his own name should be perpetuated by the gift. Other charitable bequests of the same nature aggregate $150,000. He did not for- get the men with whom, as his employees, he came in daily touch while he guided the affairs of the Boston Theatre, Boston, and the Acad- emy of Music, New York. Among this group he distributed $31,000. Quincy Kilby, who was for thirty years treasurer of the Boston Theatre and continued to be confidential busi- ness adviser to Mr. Tompkins until the latter's death, received $25,000. Others sharing in the munificence of Mr. Tompkins were Fred E. Pond, assistant manager of the Boston Theatre about ten years; Napier Lothian, or-

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chestra leader there for thirty-five years; James W. Taylor, custodian of the theatre and master of supernumeraries for forty years ; Edward C. Smith, electrician for twenty years ; William Finn, doorkeeper at the Mason street entrance for twenty years ; William S. Harris, advertising agent for twenty-five years or more ; William H. Walsh, press agent for ten years : Eugene Foster, once the head usher and later a ticket taker; William Ford, stage door- keeper; Ralph Harris, a ticket taker. The smallest of these remembrances was $500. He also left $2,000 to his steward and butler and $45,000 to relatives and friends. The son of Mrs. Tompkins (by her first husband), Ever- ett Pevear, received $50,000, and Eugene F. Van Dusen, treasurer of the Academy was re- membered substantially. Mr. Tompkins was an active member of the Masonic order, and had uncounted friends among the fraternity as well as outside of it. He was a member of St. Bernard Commandery, Knights Templar, and of the Council, Royal and Select Masters. He was an enthusiastic yachtsman, and for many years spent much of his summers upon the water. He married (first) Gertrude Gris- wold, of Syracuse, New York, who died child- less in 1897. He married (second), June 14, 1906, Mrs. Alice Maud Pevear, widow of Asa Everett Pevear, and daughter of Harrison W. and Helen C. (Todd) Huguley, of Cambridge.

TEELE This name appears in the early New England records with a va- riety of spellings, including Teal. Teel, and Tele. The number of descendants is not as numerous as in many other early fam- ilies, but they have been known for their up- right character and steadfast adherence to New England traditions.

(1) William Teele was a carpenter, and is found of record in Malden as early as 1686, this territory then being a part of Charlestown. Massachusetts. The christian name of his first wife was Mary, and he married (second) May 20, 1706, in Charlestown, Hannah Ken- rick, of Newton, daughter of John and Esther Kenrick, born December 15, 1680. She was admitted to the church at Malden, December 27, 1730. Ilis first five children were born in Malden, and the rest in Charlestown, where nine of them were baptized. They were: Abi- gail, born January 1, 1686: Benjamin, Noven- ber 2. 1689: Elizabeth, June 22, 1696; Oliver, July 19, 1699: Rachael, August 11, 1705 ; Han- nah, July 25. 1707 ; John, September 25, 1709 : Esther, baptized September 9. 1711; Mary,

March 30, 1713; William, baptized October 3. 1714 ; Caleb, June 23, 1717 ; Elizabeth, October 12, 1723.

(II) Benjamin, eldest son of William and Mary Teele, born November 2, 1689, in Mal- den, married there (first) December 31, 1712, Anna Jenkins, daughter of Obadiah Jenkins. He married (second) September 27, 1750, at Medford, Margaret (Winship), widow of John Elder. He was taxed in Charlestown from 1727 to 1773, and bought lands in 1730- 37-54. His will was made December 3, 1776, and the inventory of his property, including a house and fourteen acres of land, footed up five hundred thirty-eight pounds. Children : Jolın. Benjamin, baptized in July, 1719, at Medford; Samuel, Anna, Mary, Sarah and Rachael.

(III) Samuel, third son of Benjamin and Anna ( Jenkins) Teele, resided in Charlestown until about 1757, being taxed there as late as 1756. In 1758 he was at Medford with wife and three children and died there before 1775. He married (first) March 1, 1749, Elizabeth, daughter of James and Lydia (Hill) Tufts, who died before 1755. He married (second ) April 3. 1755, Jane Dixon, daughter of Will- iam and Ruth ( Prentiss) Dixon. Children : Samuel, born 1749. Gershom, 1751-2; Jona- than, mentioned below : Ruth, February 10. 1760; Benjamin, January 30, 1763; Aaron, May 7. 1765; Lydia, March 16, 1770.

(IV) Jonathan, third son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Tufts) Teele, was born about 1754. in Charlestown, and resided in Medford, Mass- achusetts. He bought one acre in Charles- town in 1782, and the same year eighty-two acres from his brother Benjamin, and two- thirds of a house and barn left by his uncle Benjamin. In 1784 he purchased another eight acres, received six acres by inheritance in 1785, and acquired more property in 1787 and in 1793. There are numerous other trans- actions of both sales and purchase on record, showing him to have been an extensive land owner. lle was admitted to the Metonomy church. April 7. 1790, and died in Charlestown, now Somerville, Massachusetts, June 7, 1828. He was a private in Captain Isaac Hale's com- pany, Colonel Thomas Gardner's regiment, which assembled at the Lexington alarni, AApril 19, 1775, and served five days. He mar- ried, April 7, 1776, Lydia Cutter, born Octo- ber 26, 1757, died May 26, 1831, daughter of Ami and Esther ( Pierce ) Cutter. She was admitted to the Metonomy church March 9, 1828, and was buried in Arlington. Children :

Samuel Telle €

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Lydia, born April 26, 1782; Jonathan, men- tioned below; Ruth, July 30, 1786; Samuel Cutter, baptized Metonomy Church, October 21, 1788: Ami Cutter, February 13, 1791; Mary, March 13, 1793; Benjamin Cutter, Feb- ruary 17, 1796; Thomas, baptized January 20, 1799; and Joseph, April 25, 1801.

(V) Jonathan (2), eldest child of Jonathan (I) and Lydia (Cutter) Teele, was born Jan- uary 26, 1784. in Charlestown, and resided in what is now Somerville, whither he removed with his wife, October 6, 1805, and died Octo- ber 20, 1850. He inherited lands from his father in that part of Charlestown which is now West Somerville, and was a farmer in a large way. Among other industries he maintained a fruit tree nursery, and he was a leading citizen, especially known for his kind- ness to the poor. Of very even temper and courteous manner, he made no enemies and was widely loved and respected. In early life he joined the Mystic Congregational, but was later a member of the Arlington church, and he was among the first to discard the use of liquor in his home, at that time so generally prevalent. In politics he was a Whig. He married. March 24, 1805, Lydia, daughter of William and Mercy ( Perry) Hill, born March 14, 1782. died April 24. 1858. Children : Lydia. born June 13, 1805; Anna Hill, April 24, 1807 ; Sarah Hill, March 16, 1808; Jona- than William, July 4, 1811; Elbridge, Sep- tember 17, 1813; Rebecca Russell, August 13, 1816: Samuel, mentioned below ; Edwin, May 13. 1821.

(VI) Samuel (2), third son of Jonathan (2) and Lydia (Hill) Teele, was born No- vember 18, 1818, in Charlestown, now Somer- ville, and baptized June 6, 1819, in Arlington. Massachusetts. He attended the district schools and was two years a student at Wo- burn Academy. He remained with his par- ents upon the paternal farm, at what is now Teele Square, working in winter in a pork packing establishment in Boston. After the death of his parents, whom he cared for dur- ing their old age, he built a house which he occupied about ten years, and then sold the property to Tufts College. In 1868 he built the house on Curtis street opposite Tufts Col- lege, which continued to be his home through life. He was a very neat and thrifty farmer. and was successful in his calling. His apple orchard was one of the best in the community, but has now been destroyed to make way for the spread of population in West Somerville. He was actively identified for some years with

the Arlington church, of whose Sunday school he was for some years superintendent, and he also maintained a mission Sunday school not far from his home. In 1854 he be- came affiliated with the North Avenue Bap- tist Church of Cambridge, and thus continued until his death. He was a staunch Republican, having previously been a Whig, and cast his first presidential vote for William Henry Har- rison in 1840. He possessed a fine mind, was fond of reading, became well informed, and was a good conversationalist. He cared little for the strifes of the commercial or political world, and gave his time and energy to the cultivation of his farm, from which he re- tired upon the approach of age. He married June 25, 1845, Phoebe Libby, born February 23, 1819, in Ossipee, New Hampshire, died June 17, 1880, daughter of James and Abigail (Goodwin) Libby, natives respectively of Ber- wick, Maine, and Ossipee, New Hampshire. Children: 1. Isabella Goodwin, married Fran- ces J. Bartlett, and is now deceased, as is their son, Samuel Teele Bartlett. 2. Samuel Fer- dinand, born August 16, 1847 ; he enlisted for nine months in Company E, Twenty-sixth Massachusetts Regiment, and participated with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley campaign, and in the battles of Winchester, Cedar Moun- tain, and others, and was discharged at the close of the war. He was always afterward a farmer, with his father. He resides at 67 Curtis street, West Somerville, in a house built in 1869. He married ( first ) January 5, 1869, Justina Mer- rill, of Haverhill, who died April 12, 1901 ; one child, Grace Merrill, married Herman Det- wyler, of Yonkers, New York; children : Gladys Teele, and Grace Aldyeth. Samuel F. Teele married ( second) Mary Harrington, of Newtonville ; child: Stanley Ferdinand. Jonathan Merle, graduate from Tufts College, 3. 1870 : a successful physician, near Dorchester Lower Mills ; died aged forty years: married Elizabeth Bacon ; child: Jonathan M. Jr. 4. Phoebe Janette, graduated from high school; was for ten years a teacher in Somerville pub- lic schools; now resides upon the paternal homestead in West Somerville. 5. and 6. Lydia Hill and Roland Forbes, died young.

Samuel Teele died January 9, 1899. and the Somerville Journal of January 13 following published the following obituary :

Death of the Oldest Native Resident of Clarendon Hill .- The venerable Samuel Teele, of 170 Curtis street, Clarendon Hill, passed peacefully away of old age, Monday morning, at 3.30. Mr. Teele was 'ailing but three days prior to death. There seemed

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to be a general and quick collapse of the system, which had been active and vigorous for over four score years. On Saturday the deceased was up and about the house. Sunday he remained in bed, sit- ting up at periods, supported by pillows. His daughter, Phobe Janette, was at his bedside throughout the day and night, up to the hour of death. Mr. Teele was conscious up to the very last, and spoke to his daughter a moment before he passed away. Most all of Sunday his daughter read to him from the Bible and the "Watchman," and he appeared to appreciate the reading very much. Mr. Teele was one of the pioneer members of the North Avenue Baptist Church. The present and former pastors officiated (appropriately) the funeral taking place at 2.30. The clergymen were Rev. Albert S. Apsey, D. D., of Reading, who was Mr. Teele's pastor twenty-five years; and Rev. Riley A. Vose. Mr. Apsey delivered a beautiful eulogy on the christian life of the deceased. Burial was at Mt. Pleasant cemetery, Arlington.

LIBBEY Is a name which seems to have come to America from the west of England, probably Cornwall or Devon; and in the ancient records and in present use has about the same number of variations in its orthography as most other surnames. The family has been distinguished rather for those substantial virtues that make their possessor happy in himself and helpful to mankind, than by the possession of wealth and those more showy and less laudible charac- teristics not unfrequently in evidence to every observer of men. As a family the Libbeys have been respected by their neighbors as men of sterling worth, and uprightness and honesty of character. They have generally belonged to that law abiding class which forms the bone and muscle of the nation, content to ren- dler the wise efforts of others effective by a hearty support, and willing to concede all the glory to the leader. The family numbers its revolutionary soldiers by scores, and many hundreds risked their lives for their country in the war of the rebellion. In Maine alone there were two hundred and fifty-six enlist- ments. They are, as a family, very devout, and have figured much more largely in the religious than in the civil institutions of the communities in which they have lived. The family has abounded in Christian ministers, elcers, and deacons, while generation after generation has died in the faith. Very few have been guilty of bringing any reproach upon the name, and even in Maine, where the family is so numerous as to rank with the Smiths and Browns, it has been remarked by many that they never knew of a criminal or a pauper named Libby.

(I) John Libby, born in England about the

year 1602, came to New England and was em- ployed in the fisheries by Robert Trelawney, who had a grant of land embracing Rich- mond's Island and other land about Cape Eliz- abeth, Maine. The records of this industry show that John Libby was in the employ of Trelawney four years from the summer of 1635 to the summer of 1639. He had a grant of land in Scarborough, on the bank of Libby river and there built a house. Here he is sup- posed to have divided his time between fishing and agriculture. In 1663 he is described in a document as a "planter," and in the history of Scarborough he is said to have been "for many years one of the town's principal planters." He was constable in 1664, and his name stands first of the four selectmen in a town grant bearing date 1669. In King Phillip's war (1675) he lost everything he had except his plantation. Captain Joshua Scattow's diary says: "Eight or nine deserted houses belong- ing to Libby and his children" were burned by the Indians, September 7, 1675. John Libby and his wife and younger children were in Boston, July 10, 1677, and on his petition at that time his two sons Henry and Anthony were discharged from Black Point garrison. He probably soon after returned to Black Point, his old home in Maine, where he ac- quired a comfortable property and died at the age of eighty years. He had two wives. Of the first, nothing is known except that she was the mother of all of his sons except Matthew and Daniel, and probably all his daughters. Of the second nothing is known but her Chris- tian name, which was Mary. Children, prob- ably all born in this country except the eldest : John, James, Samuel, Joanna, Henry, An- thony, Rebecca, Sarah Hannah, David, Mat- thew and Daniel.

(II) John (2), son of John (I) Libby, was probably born in England, in 1636, and was reared in Scarborough. In 1668 he bought fifty acres adjoining his father's plantation at Black Point, where he resided. Subsequently he received several other grants from the town. He took an active part in the public matters of the town, and served as selectman in the years 1670-74-83-87. In 1690 Fort Loyal, a few miles north of Black Point, was captured by the French and Indians, and the inhabitants of Scarborough left their homes and went to safer localities. John Libby, with his whole family, fled to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and there lived the remainder of his life. He followed the vocation of miller, and during the earlier years of his residence there was fre-

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quently chosen to fill minor town offices. He lived to be very old, and probably died soon after 1720. His wife Agnes was living in March, 1717, but probably died before her hus- band. Their children, all born in Scarborough were: John, Joseph, Samuel, James, Daniel, Benjamin and Jeremiah.

(III) Deacon Benjamin Libbey, sixth son and child of John (2) and Agnes, was born in Scarborough, June 4, 1682, and died in Ber- wick, November 9, 1768, aged eighty-six. He was taken by his father to Portsmouth in 1690, and afterward went to Berwick and "lived and served his time" seven years with Colonel John Plaisted. He settled near what is now South Berwick Junction, on the "Witchtrot" road, and lived there the remainder of his life. He was many years one of the principal inhabit- ants, was frequently placed on the most im- portant town committees, often presided over meetings of the town, and was selectman from 1719 to 1736. He was one of the original pro- prietors of Lebanon, and took a prominent part in the early management of that township. September 16, 1725, he was chosen deacon of the Congregational church, of which he and his wife had been members from October 7, 1716, and filled that position until June 25, 1761, a period of thirty-six years. There is a record of special thanks voted him for his ser- vices. He married, December 20, 1707, Sarah Stone, daughter of Daniel and Patience ( Good- win) Stone, of Kittery. The date of her death is unknown, but she was living as late as Feb- ruary, 1764. Children: Agnes, Joseph and Benjamin (twins), Sarah, Daniel, Mary, Jere- miah, Anna, Charles and Elisha.

(IV) Charles, ninth child and fifth son of Deacon Benjamin and Sarah (Stone) Libbey, was born in Berwick, Maine, December 29. 1721, and died September 8, 1772. He lived and died on his father's homestead, where he was engaged in farming. He married, Decem- ber 27, 1744, Abigail Hilton, who survived him. Children : Hannah, Mary, Ebenezer, Charles, Mehitable, Abigail, Jeremiah, Benjamin, John (died young), James, Sarah and John.

(V) James, sixth son of Charles and Abi- gail (Hilton) Libbey, was born August 18, 1760, in Berwick, and settled soon after his marriage in Lebanon, Maine, where he cleared up land and followed farming, dying June 22, 1832. He married, November 7, 1782, Han- nah Woodsun, who died May 15, 1840. Chil- dren : Betsy, James, Abigail, Permitta, Mary, Jeremiah. Rebecca, Jacob, Dorcas, Moses and David.

(VI) James (2), eldest son of James (I) and Hannah (Woodson) Libbey, was born December 8, 1787, in Lebanon, and settled in Osippee, New Hampshire, where he was a farmer, and died January 1, 1850. He married (first), January 1, 1811, Abigail Goodwin, who (lied May 18, 1826; (second) Abigail Austin, of Somersworth, New Hampshire, who died twenty years later ; (third) Margaret (Gowell) Chatman. Children, all by first wife: Almira, Peninnah, Reuben G., Hannah, Phoebe, Dorcas and James C.

(VII) Phoebe Libby (as she spelled the name), fourth daughter of James (2) and Abigail (Goodwin) Libbey, was born Feb- ruary 23, 1819, in Ossipee, and was mar- ried, June 25, 1845, to Samuel Teele, of Som- erville, Massachusetts (see Teele, VI).

In the year 1066 a Norman MOULTON follower of William the Con- queror named Thomas Mul- ton, or de Multon, accompanied his chief into England, and after the battle of Hastings was rewarded for his services with large grants of land in Lincolnshire. Here he built castles and religious establishments, maintained a retinue of soldiers, laborers and priests, and lived the life of a feudatory of the king. From this Norman the Moultons of England and America are said to have sprung. Be- tween the time of the first Sir Thomas, and the present, twenty-five generations of Moul- tons have been born ; and through nine genera- tions, from the battle of Hastings, there con- tinued to be some brave knights bearing the name of Sir Thomas, who were ready to re- spond to the king's call to arms. Sir Thomas of the fourth generation was sheriff during the ninth and tenth years of King John's dynasty, and in the fifteenth year of his reign attended the king in his expedition to Poitou. Two years later he was taken in arms with the re- bellious barons and imprisoned in the castle of Corff. This was the Sir Thomas Moul- ton whose name appears upon the Magna Charta as one of the English barons who wrung this great muniment of liberty from an unwilling king. The fifth Sir Thomas de Moulton, Sir Walter Scott took as a leading character in his dramatic story, "The Talis- man." " Being a trusted friend of Richard Coeur de Lion, and possessing great physical power, he was the admiration and envy of the knights at the great tournements of England. In the Holy Land he was a leading crusader, and was of all the knights the nearest to the

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Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 84

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848- Publication date: 1910 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 886

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 886